Arrival at Kilimanjaro 

900m / 2,953 ft (above sea level)

Touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport for airport transfer to our hotel in Moshi with a pool, lush gardens, a bar and restaurant, and views of the big beastly mountain you’re about to take on.

After check-in, you’ll get a full trek briefing from your local guides and a chance to meet the rest of your team. Then relax, eat, and settle in - it's been months of waiting, and now the adventure begins.

Hardest Highlight:

Standing under the shadow of Kilimanjaro for the first time, knowing that in just a few days you’ll be standing on top of it.

What's included?

• Airport transfer
• Pre-trek briefing
• Meals: Dinner
• Accommodation: 3-4* Hotel in Moshi 

Acclimatisation & Explore Moshi 

900m / 2,953 ft (above sea level)

Relax by the pool and gardens, or go for an optional adventure to Materuni Waterfall & Coffee Tour with the Chagga tribe where you’ll see the coffee-making process from bean to cup. Or you can go swimming in the Kikuletwa (Chemka) Hot Springs, surrounded by wild fig trees and turquoise water.

It’s your choice: recover quietly, or start exploring Tanzania’s rhythm before the trek begins.

Hardest Highlight:

Coffee with the locals at the foot of Kilimanjaro - 70M waterfall is pretty wicked too.

What's included?

• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: 3-4* Hotel in Moshi

Machame Gate to Machame Camp 

(1,640m / 5,380 ft  → 2,850m / 9,350 ft)

5-7 Hours hiking 11km

The adventure begins. A short drive takes you to Machame Gate, the start of the trail. From here, the path winds steeply through lush rainforest filled with tropical plants, monkeys, birds, and mist until you reach Machame Camp - your first base on the mountain.

Hardest Highlight:

Hiking through the jungle as the air gets thinner and the noise of the forest fills every step. By the time you reach camp, you’ll feel the shift from comfort to challenge.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp 

3,810m / 12,500 ft (above sea level)

4-6 Hours hiking 5km

The forest thins and gives way to open moorland. The trail climbs steadily along rocky ridges and through heather, revealing the vast Shira Plateau. You’ll cross a wide gorge before reaching Shira 2 Camp, your home above the clouds.

Hardest Highlight:

Looking back down from the plateau, watching the rainforest vanish beneath the clouds, you really feel as if you've stepped into a different world.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

4,630m / 15,190 ft (above sea level)

6-8 Hours hiking 10km

A big acclimatisation day. You’ll climb to Lava Tower, a towering volcanic rock formation at 4,630m, before descending through the surreal Senecio Forest to Barranco Camp.

The “climb high, sleep low” approach is perfect for acclimatisation - and will seriously help your body adapt for the following days.

Hardest Highlight:

Standing beneath the 300ft Lava Tower, feeling the burn of altitude - at the highest point of the trek so far, and knowing every step is getting you closer to flexing your muscles at the summit of Kilimanjaro.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

3,995m / 13,106 ft (above sea level)

4-5 Hours Hiking 5KM

Today starts with the Barranco Wall - a steep, non-technical scramble that demands hands, legs, and focus. Once at the top, you’ll cross rolling valleys before a final climb to Karanga Camp. A shorter day designed for acclimatisation, giving you time to rest and prepare for the summit push ahead.

Hardest Highlight:

The Barranco Wall. Whilst climbing up and along this steep section, there is a point known as "kissing rock" where you have to crab-walk, hugging the mountain to get across. Very safe, and gives a fantastic rush you can't find in the office, really hammers home that this is your challenge to overcome.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp 

4,673m / 15,331 ft (above sea level)

4-5 Hours hiking 4km

A steep push through barren alpine desert brings you to Barafu Camp, your final base before the summit. From here, the Southern Circuit reveals views of Mawenzi and Kibo, the two peaks of Kilimanjaro. You’ll rest early — tomorrow is summit day.

Hardest Highlight:

Watching the sunset over Mawenzi Peak knowing you’ll start your summit push in total darkness within hours.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Summit Day - Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp 

5,895m 19,341 ft (highest point in Africa)

11-14 Hours hiking 17km

This is it. Around midnight, you’ll begin the climb to the Roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak. It’s cold, steep, and brutally tough. Every breath takes effort, every step is a battle of willpower. This day will outshine the rest by testing your resilience, and how badly you want it. 

And as dawn breaks, the first light hits Mawenzi Peak and you’ll see the sun rise above the clouds - a sight you’ll never forget. At the summit, 5,895m above sea level, it will feel almost ridiculous, what you've just accomplished.

After photos and celebrations, you’ll descend via Barafu for lunch, then continue down to Mweka Camp for a well-earned rest.

Hardest Highlight:

Reaching Uhuru Peak — exhausted, emotional, proud. There’s no feeling like it.

What's included?

• English-speaking guides
• Porters, cooks & camp assistants
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Mountain tents & camping equipment

Descent to Mweka Gate 

1,640m / 5,380 ft (above sea level)

The final descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you’ll collect your summit certificates and celebrate with the team. From there, a short transfer takes you back to the Hotel in Moshi for hot showers, cold drinks, and real beds.

Hardest Highlight:

The feeling of hitting the gate. Battered, proud, and changed. You’ve just climbed Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Deserves a little pat on the back.

What's included?

• Park entry fees & certificates
• Transport to Moshi
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Hostel (3–4⭐)

Day 10: Departure & Start of Ext. Trip

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home - or if you've gone for the extension trip, today is the beginning of your extra adventure with a Zanzibar beach escape and wildlife safari in the Northern Circuit Parks.

Hardest Highlight:

The beginning of the extension trip, kicking off with a wildlife safari where you can spot giraffes, elephants, rhinos and monkeys!

What's included?

• Airport transfer
• Meals: Breakfast